The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina Winter Games was formally handed to Italian organizers on Thursday in the all-marble stadium in central Athens where the first modern Olympics were held nearly 130 years ago.

From Athens the flame will travel to Italy, where it will begin a 63-day, 12,000-kilometer relay through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6.

Italy will host the flame for the first time in 20 years and 10,000 torchbearers have been organized.

“To stand here in this historic stadium provides an inspiring reminder of the honor we have been granted and the precious treasure we will carry home with us,” Milan Cortina organizing committee president Giovanni Malago said before receiving the flame.

A forecast of

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